Thursday, June 7, 2012

When it comes to keeping kids safe, parents do all that they can to impart every ounce of knowledge and information possible. We tell them not to talk to strangers, to look both ways before crossing the street, and to just say no to peer pressure.

But how well do they really hear it? Let's face it, sometimes it is easy to see our kids' eyes glaze over when we're talking, simply due to the fact that listening to parents isn't always so cool. But how about when some of their favorite characters are promoting safety? Then of course they'll want to participate!

Available for free for IOS devices (including iPhone, iPad and iPod touch) in the iTunes store now, the 'Chuggington: Be Safe!' app is designed to make learning about traffic safety fun and interactive. This app is the latest free resource from the 'Think Safe, Ride Safe, Be Safe!' campaign using Chuggington's popular characters to help parents teach their children about NHTSA's recommended pedestrian, school bus, bike and car seat safety guidelines.

I love the way that the 'Chuggington: Be Safe!' app helps teach children important traffic safety lessons in a fun and innovative way, and features an interactive Chuggington traffic safety pledge, a traffic safety game, coloring activities and more.

To unlock the features on this app, your trainee must first take the traffic safety pledge – a promise to wear a helmet while riding a bike, buckle up in the car, and only cross the street with an adult.

Whether your trainee is completing the Badge Quest maze or taking the traffic safety pledge, this app features loads of exciting activities that will teach your trainee the importance of safety, anytime, anywhere!

"The goal of the 'Think Safe, Ride Safe, Be Safe!' campaign has always been to save children's lives," said NHTSA Administrator, David L. Strickland. "The development of the 'Chuggington: Be Safe!' app is unprecedented for NHTSA, and is a new and relevant way for us to reach families with our invaluable traffic safety guidelines. In turn, we hope that parents and children will gain a greater sense of how to safely go about their daily activities."

Since the initial launch of the 'Think Safe, Ride Safe, Be Safe!' campaign in September 2011, more than 500,000 children have taken the pledge to 'Be Safe!' on the campaign's fully-immersive website.

I appreciate that Chuggington and the NHTSA have already provided parents and children with a way to make learning about traffic safety fun, so the addition of the 'Chuggington: Be Safe!' app is the perfect educational and exciting next step!